Captain America out of the July

After discussions with the owners of Captain America, who won the Gold Challenge over the weekend at Greyville, Crawford Racing has decided to withdraw their Group 1 winning star from the Vodacom Durban July Handicap.

He was being quoted as a 14-1 shot, having shortened from 33’s after Saturday’s victory.

Previously rated 116, the additional penalty of around a 1kg that he’s just received for that win made a difficult task as top weight appear insurmountable - the July distance of 2 200m is already pushing his stamina reserves to the utmost.

Trainer Brett Crawford feels that, under the circumstances, it makes better sense to focus on the shorter Champions Cup where he would also be more favourably weighted given the conditions of the race.

Captain America has compiled a tremendous race record of nine wins from 28 starts for earnings of close to R5 million. The powerful pace-pressing galloper has performed with distinction around the country in high class races, and while he gets middle distances is at his most formidable over 1 600m – six of his wins coming over this trip.

The son of Captain Al is familiar to Highveld racing fans having won the Group 1 Horse Chestnut over 1 600m at Turffontein in very soft going in 2015. He’s tangled on numerous subsequent occasions with Legal Eagle over that distance, typically finishing a couple of lengths behind the proven champion miler.

Captain America has also run well in the Met, the easy 2000m distance at the coast being within range, confirmed by valiant places in 2016 behind Smart Call and stable mate Whisky Baron in 2017.

His only previous dip at the July was in 2014 when he proved too headstrong and faded to finish in the midfield ruck – that was the year when Legislate and Wylie Hall had their controversial knock down duel in Durban’s historic race.